Resilient wheel.



M. F. KETTLER.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1915.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Inna/d301 M. F. KETTLER.

RESILIIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25. 1915.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

S H E E T 2.

3 SHEETS- 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 25,19I5.

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MARTIN F. KETTLER, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR TO DOWNING PNEUMATIC WHEEL COMPANY, OF HOUSTON, TEXAS.

RESILIEN'I' W EEL.-

App ication filed February 25, 1915.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, MARTIN F KETTLER, a citizen of the United States,'residing at Houston, in the county of Harris andState of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Resilient Wheels, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to resilient wheels and more particularly to that type embodying a hub, a floating spoke carr ing rim and a pneumatic cushion interpose between the hub and floating rim, and it is one aim of the invention to provide an improved seatin'g member for the cushion and an improved bearing for the said seating member.

Another aim of the inventlon is to so construct the casing within which the floating rim works that access to the interior thereof may be readily had for the purpose of removing the pneumatic cushion 1n the event repairs are necessary.

Another aim of the invention is to provide means whereby access may be readily had to the inflating valve for the pneumatic cushion without disturbing the adjustment of the parts comprising the wheel and wlthout the necessity of removing either of the side plates comprising the casing mentioned above.

Another aim of the invention is to so construct the seating member for the pneumatic cushion that it will be adapted to carry lubricant for distribution between the contacting parts of the said seating member and the bearing therefor.

A further aim of the invention is to provide novel means for securing one section of one of the side plates of the casing above mentioned in such manner that it may be readily removed whenever'it is desired to gain access to the interior of the casing and without the necessity of disturbing the adjustment of the other parts of the wheel.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a sid elevation of the wheel embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on:

the line 33 of Fig. 2. I

Fig. l is a vertical transverse sectional view through the seating member for the pneumatic cushion.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

Serial No. 10,498.

through the bearing for the seating member, the sections comprising the same being shown slightly separated.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the sections shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of the securing collars for one section of one of the side plates of the casing for the floating rim and pneumatic cushion.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the said securing member.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of' one of the bolts employed for rigidly connecting the hub and rim sections.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indi cated in'all the views of the accompanying.

drawings by the same reference characters. In the drawings the hub proper is indi cated by the numeral -1 and interiorly is of the ordinary construction. Exteriorly the mid-portion of the hub is cyl indrical and the hub is exteriorly reduced at one enol'as at 2 ,and adjacent the said end is provided with an integralannular flange At its other end the hub is eXteriorly threaded as at t for a purpose to be presently explained.

As before stated, the wheel embodying the present invention includes a floating rim between which and the hub is interposed a pneumatic cushion, and this rim and cushion are housed within a casing. The inner side of this casing, or in other words, that side which is located next adjacent the vehicle, is in the form of a plate 5 provided centrally with an opening 6 receiving the reduced end of the hub, the plate being disposed in position abutting against the tioned is mounted upon a seating member and this seating member is in turn supported upon a bearing mounted upon the hub. This bearing comprises two annular conical sections, one indicated by the numeral 9 and the other by. the numeral 10, and each of these sectionsis provided at its major end the minor end of the section 9 and with the edge of its flange 11 engaging the circumferential surface of the said cylindrical portion of the hub. The flanges 11 of the sections 9 and 10 are formed with notches 12 as also the edges of, the sections at their vminor ends, these latter notches, indicated at 13, being located in alinement with the notches 12. The cylindrical portion of the hub is provided with a key-way and a key 14 is fitted therein and in the notches 12 and 13, and serves to connect the sections 9 and 10 for rotation with the hub. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that these two sections when assembled upon the hub form an annular bearing member tapered from each side toward the middle. In order to hold the'sections 9 and 10 in proper assembled relation, a ring nut 15 is threaded upon the threaded end 4 of the hub and bears against the flange 11 of the section 10. The seating member for the pneumatic cushion is clearly illustrated in'Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings and is like the bearing member formed in two sections. Each of" the, sections comprising the seating member consists of a hollow cylindrical body or ring 16 formed interiorly at one end with two spaced flanges 17 which project inwardly in parallel relation and which are annular and continuous. The flanges of each section have their inner peripheral edges beveled as indicated at 18 to correspond to the taper of the sections comprising the bearing member, and each section 16 is further formed ex teriorly at its said end with an annular flange 19, the inner portion of which. extends radially with respect to the body' of the section and the outer portion of which is curved laterally outwardly. By reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the sections comprising the seating member are fitted onto the sections comprising the bearing member and that the beveled edges of the flanges 17 rest in contact with the tapered surface of the said bearing sections, theinner edges of the bodies of the sections 16 matching in the manner shown in the said Fig. 2 and in Fig. 4:. At suitable intervals the flanges 17 of the sections comprising the seating member are formed with bolt re- 'ceiving openings, and by reference to Fig.

- the other section have their Walls plain. At

the points of location of the openings in the flanges of the section spacing collars 21 are fitted between the flanges andhave openings 22 registering with the openings formed in the flanges, these latter openings being indicated by the numeral 23. After the sections comprising the seating member have been assembled upon the bearing member, the bolts 24 are fitted through the openings 22 and'23 and each bolt has a threaded end 25-which is threaded into the threaded openings 23 of the related spacing collars 21.

In this manner the sections comprising the seating member are securely held 1n assembled relation and yetthe flanges 17 are to a certain extent relieved of strain and prevented from collapsing. As before stated, the sections comprising the bearing member are held against rotation upon the hub 1, but the sections comprising the seating member so fit the bearing member-that they may have creeping movement th'erearound, and in order to prevent wear of the parts, the sections comprising the bearing member are formed of bronze metal'and the sections comprising the seating member are formed of steel, and before the sections 16 are assembled a suitable lubricant is deposited between the flanges 17 and serves to lubricate the edges of the said flanges and the surfaces of the sections 9 and 10.

The pneumatic cushion comprises an inflatable inner tube 26 which is arranged within a casing 27 fitted about the seating member and between the'flanges 19 thereof. An inflating valve 28 is provided and the stem of this valve is connected in the usual or any desired manner with the inner tube 2.6 and fits through an opening formed by matching the notches 29 formed in the meettions 16. The stem of the valve extends laterally and through openings 30 formed in the fianges 17 of one of the sections 16 and this end is arranged in any suitable manner for'the application of a' pump tube. The outer wall of the casing includes a plate 31 ing edges of the body portions of the secand an annular plate 32. The plate 31 is formed centrally with an opening 33 re- .ceiving the threaded end of the hub 1 and the outer periphery of the plate 31 is turned inwardly as at 34 and seats around a flange 35 formed at the inner periphery of the annular plate 32. It will now be apparent that the inner side of the casing heretofore mentioned, comprises an inner section and an outer section concentrically arranged and that the sections when coupled form a cas ing. side similar to the side 5. The plate 31 is formed adjacent the opening 33 with an annular series of openings 36 concentric to the said opening 33 and so located that one or another of the openings 36 will be oppo site the outer end of the valve stem 28 in practically all relative positions of the plate 31 and the pneumatic cushion. In order that the opening 36 may be normally closed, an annular plate 37 is fitted to the'threaded end of the hub and bears against the outer face of the plate 31 and covers all of the openings of the series. The plate 31 bears against the ring nut 15 and in order to hold the plate in place a ring nut 38 is fitted onto the threaded end of the hub and bears against the plate 37 in turn binding this plate against the plate 31. The ring nut 38 is preferably provided with a suitable number of notches 39 for the application to the nut of a spanner wrench. It will now be understood that when it is desired to inflate any manner the adjustment of any part of.

the wheel thus far described. An additional securing means, to be presently described, is provided for the plate 31.

The floating rim comprises a hollow substantially annular body 40 having integral radial spokes 41 which at their outer ends support the outer or tire carrying rim 42 fitted within any suitable tire, as indicated at 43. The inner rim 40 has its side walls formed at intervals with openings 44 in which are brazed or otherwise secured the ends of transverse sleeves 45. The plate 5 and the plate 32 are formed respectively with oppositely located openings 46 and 47 .and in assembling the inner rim with the casing plates the open ends of the sleeves 45 are brought into position surrounding the openings 46 and 47. A bolt 48 is fitted at its ends through each set of openings 46 and 47 and the ends of these bolts are reduced in diameter to form shoulders 49 which abut against the inner faces of the said casing plates and serve to properly space the same. A nut 50 is'threaded onto the inner end of each bolt 48 and a nut 51 is threaded onto the outer end of-each of the said bolts, the nuts bearing respectively against the casing plates 5 and 32. A sleeve orbushing of bronze metal, indicated at 52, is fitted rotatably upon each of the bolts 48 between the casing plates and upon each of the sleeves 52 there isfitted a sleeve 53. of -soft rubber, the sleeve 53 being vulcanized or secured in any other suitable manner to the respective sleeve 52 so as to be rotatable therewith. I\t will now be apparent that as the wheel is given a forward or rearward rotative motion, the buffer sleeves 53 will strike against the walls of the respective sleeves 45 so as to connect the floating rim and its spokes and the tire carrying rim for rotative movement with the hub, the bufier sleeves being of soft rubber serving to absorb the shock of impact as the parts cooperate in the manner stated. By reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings it will be observed that the outer peripheral surface of the pneumatic tube casing 27 is not transversely rounded as are the sides of the casing but that the casing is thickened at this portion, as indicated at 54, so that the outer or bear ing surface of the casing is cylindrical and this surface bears against the inner cylindrical surface of the floating rim 40. By thus forming the casing, a more firm bearing is obtained between it and the floating rim and furthermore the casing is prevented from wearing as rapidly as it would if its bearing surface were transversely rounded. It will further be understood that by arranging the buffer sleeves 53 upon the bronze metal bearing sleeves 52 and in a manner to rotate therewith, the buffer sleeves are prevented from wearing contact with the bolts 48.

As before stated, means is provided for further securing the plate 31 in place. and this additional securing means is in the nature of a collar 55 having an opening 56 receiving that end of the respective bolt 48 upon which the nut 51 is threaded. The, collar 55 is provided at its periphery with a laterally projecting annular flange 57, one side of which is externally flattened as at 58. The opposite side of this flange 57 is notched or cut away to form shoulders 59 and which are located inplanes at right angles to each other. By reference to Figs.

8 and 9 of the drawings, it will be observed that the flattened surface 58 of the flange and the surface of the shoulder 59 are equidistantly spaced fro-m the axis of'the collar and by reference to Fig. 2 it will be observed that the collars are to be so fitted upon their respective bolts 48 that each collar will contact the peripheral edge of the plate 31 and the shoulder 60 will engage and bear against the outer face 'of the said plate at its said edge. the flange 57 surrounding the nut 51. The collar is held in place by means of a nut 61 which is threaded onto the end of the bolt 48. It will be understood that when the parts are assembled as shown in Fig. 2, the collars, of which there are a number, will securely and firmly bind the to such position that the edges of their flanges 57 will clear the outer surface of the plate 31. at its edge. The collars may then be rotated so as to bring their flattened portions 58 into position tangential to the edge of the plate 31. As the flattened sur face 58 of each collar extends, the entire width or depth of the flange 57 it will be possible, when the collars are in the position stated, to remove the plate 31 and, of course, this may be accomplished without the necessity of removing the nuts 61 and said collars. Of course, when it is desired to again attach the plate 31, the same is fitted to the hub and the plate 37 and nut 38 are applied, after which the collars 55 are rotated and then shifted inwardly upon the nuts of the respective bolts 48 so as to bring the shoulders 60 into the position bearing against the edge of the plate 31 in the manner heretofore explained. After the collars .have been so positioned the nuts 61 are tightened. In the event of collapse of the pneumatic cushion, it will, of course, be desirable to employ some means for rigidly connecting the floating rim with the casingv plates and consequently with the hub of the wheel, and

' in order that this may be .done the sides of the hollow rim are at suitable intervals stamped in, as at 62, and the stamped in portions are formed with openings 63 located in axial alinement. Sleeves 64 are fitted at their ends inthe openings and secured by brazing or otherwise and project at their extremities in the concavities of the stamped in portions. The plate 5 is formed at corresponding intervals with stamped out seats 65 and the annular .plate 32 is formed at corresponding intervals with stampedout collar portions which are interiorly threaded, as at 66. A plug 67 having hub provided with a conical anti-friction with each wheel and are each threaded adj a cent the head end, as indicated at 69, and these bolts, after removal of the section plugs 67, are adapted to be inserted into the openings 66 and through the sleeves 64: with their ends opposite their head ends projecting into the seats 65, the threaded portions. 69 of the bolts fitting the threaded collar portions 66. I

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is: s

1. In a wheel ofthe class described, a

bearing surface, a seating member disposed to surround the hub and including separable sections each having an annular body, the

said sections being disposed with the inner ends of their bodies meeting, the said-bodies of thesections being provided at their outer section, means upon ends each with spaced flanges projecting inwardly .and having their inner edges con tacting the said surface and shaped to conform to the contour of the said surface, securing elements fitted through the flanges of the two sections, and connecting the sec- "tacting the said surface and shaped to cops form to the contour of the said surface, spacing mnembers disposed between the flanges of each section, securing elements fitted through the flanges of the two sections and through the said spacing members, and connecting the sections in assembled rela tion, and a floating spoke rim disposed to surround the seating member. p 3. In a wheel of the class described, a hub, a bearing member comprising exteriorly conical sections, anabutment upon the hub, the said sections being assembled upon the hub with the major end of one section resting against the abutment and with the minor end of the other section engaging the minor end of the first mentioned the hub bearing against the major end of the second mentioned sec-.

tion and adjustable to adjust the said secher and including an annular body having spaced annular.- portions projecting inwardly and contacting at their inner sides with the conical surfaces of the bearing secsurround the seating member.

'tions, and a floating spoke rim disposed to 4. In a wheel of the class described, a I

hub, spaced casing plates upon the hub, one of said casing plates comprising concentrically arranged sections, one section thereof being removably secured upon the hub, means connecting the said sections including an element projecting'b'eyond the face of one section, a collar upon the said element having a flattened side and a shoulder, the collar being rotatable to bring. the shoulder into binding engagement with. the margin of one section and rotatable to present its flattened side to the said marg n of the said section, and means for hold ng collar in either position of adjustment. 5.- In awheel of the class described, a hub,

spaced c'asingplates' upon the hub, one of said casing platescomprising concentrically arranged sections, the inner section thereof being removably secured upon the hub, means connecting the outer section thereof and the other one of said plates, the said means including bolts having threaded ends fitted through the said outer section and through the said other one of the plates, a nut upon one end of each bolt bearing against the said other one of the plates, a

nut upon the other end of the bolt bearing against the outer section of the first mentioned plate, a collar rotatably fitted upon the last mentioned end of each bolt and having a flattened side and a shoulder, the

collar being rotatable to bring the shoulder into binding relation to the margin of the inner section and rotatable to present the flattened side to said margin of the inner section, and a second nut threaded upon the last mentioned end of each bolt and bearing against the respective collar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MARTIN F. KETTLER.

Witnesses G120. W. SonMrrz,

M. Gr. ANDREWS. 

